This is the "deadly stash" of drugs police found in a graveyard in Northern Ireland.

Officers were called in to search St Coleman's Cemetery outside Lurgan and discovered what they described as a "deadly stash" of drugs.

Police said some of the pills included heart medication which can be fatal is misused.

An officer for PSNI Craigavon said: "Quite often our job doesn't look pretty. It's not always an attractive, heroic, easy to watch from the outside kind of job. In some instances, we have to go places we don't want to to and do things we don't want to do. To keep you safe though, we will always do it.

"Searching a graveyard is one such instance.

"You hear the line in films, "We'll go where the investigation leads us", and that is as true in real life as it is on the screen. Criminals, in this instance drug dealers, will stoop to the lowest levels in order to further their gains. Just a couple of weeks ago we saw a terrorist pipe bomb near a nursery school. Now, little over 500 meters away, we find another deadly stash hidden where families are at their most vulnerable.

"The locals will recognise this spot at the back of St Colemans cemetery . For those who don't, to get to where this was found you walk through the cemetery itself. To call it `disrespectful` doesn't come close to covering the lack of humanity, lack of respect and care for the community, and complete selfishness that the low life's who deal these pills have shown here.

"Some of this stuff is heart medication. Pills which, prescribed and used as designed, can save lives. They lower heart rate and blood pressure. If abused, it takes a normal heart rate and lowers it...and lowers it...and lowers it......

"If you're lucky, someone will find you in time to start CPR and get you to A&E. If not, "heart failure" will be on your death certificate. It really is that simple folks. This stuff is indiscriminate. Young or old, child or pensioner. If abused, it can be fatal.

"Drug dealers are still operating in our area. We've had some good successes recently but more is needed. That's not just our job, it's yours too. People frequently tell us that the dogs on the street know who's dealing. That's great, but even our PDs can't translate for us. If you see someone you know is a dealer lurking somewhere you find suspicious, or in a new vehicle, or going back and forward between a particular spot in a hedge for example...we need to know about it.

"Knowing who is dealing and catching them at it are very different things. We will continue to take a firm stance against all drug dealing but with your help, that process becomes a lot quicker and much easier. Together, we will see results. Together we will save our children's lives.

"Call 101, private message us, or speak completely anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."


